Treatment of textile material



Aug. 10, 1937.

W. WHITEHEAD TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL Filed April 30, 1955 BY W INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented ing. 10, 1937 2,089,778 TREATMENT OF TEXTILE MATERIAL PATENT OFFICE William Whitehead, Cumberland, Md., assignor to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application April 30, 1935, Serial No. 19,052

15 Claims.

g This invention relates to the preparation of crepe fabrics and more particularly to the imparting of crepe twist in yarns containing an organicderivative of cellulose.

An object of the invention is the economic and expeditious production of crepe yarns containing organic derivatives of cellulose. Another object of my inventlonis the construction of a de- 'vice for emciently aiding in forming a crepe yarn, containing an organic derivative of cellulose, that has high and uniform creping properties. Other objects of the invention will appear from the following detailed description and drawing,

In the drawing there is shown .one section of a yarn creping device, falling within the scope of this invention. In the drawing the frame, guides and driving mechanism have been omitted as the same may be of any suitable type.

When imparting a high degree of twist, say from 40 to 100 or more turns per inch, to yarn containing an organic'derivative of cellulose for the purpose of producing a thread that woven into a fabric is adapted to crepe, I have found 5 that the condition of yarn at the time of imparting the twist is a major factor in producing uniformity of the whole area of the fabric produced therefrom. One major cause for variations in creping properties of the twisted thread 30 is due to unevenness with which different yarns or lengths of yarn compact or mat together when the twist is inserted therein. I have found that this unevenness is due at least in part to the uneven moisture regain in the yarn at the time 35 the twist is inserted and also to the uneven resistance or aiiinity of the yarn to the action of steam employed to set the yarn. In twisting yarn to crepe threads in accordance with this invention, there is produced a thread of uniform com- 40 pactness and a thread that'has received a uniform setting of the twist by the action of steam.

By employing this invention, the yarn is not only prepared in such a manner as to have a 'uniform amnity for the setting action of a steam 45 treatment, but the steam treatment is made uniform as to length of treatment, temperature and moisture .content. The combination of these advantages allows for the use of yarns of a wider range of ages than heretofore to form a single 50 piece, of fabric. To obtain a uniform piece of crepe fabric, by prior methods, it was necessary to carefully select the yarn to be twisted according to its age-and other properties, as these properties efiected the type .of twist that the same 65 would take due to differences in affinity r sistance to the action of steam. However, by employing this invention, the yarns are caused to have a more uniform aflinity to the action of the steam setting treatment, and said treatment is made also more uniform allowing for a greater range in variations in the starting material.

In accordance with my invention, I crepe twist yarns containing an organic derivative of cellulose while treating the same with steam for the purpose of setting the twist in the yarn, making the yarn more compact and otherwise enhancing its creping properties. Prior to the treatment with steam, however, I subject the yarn to a treatment with moisture or a mixture of steam and air for the purpose of conditioning the yarn such that upon entering the steam treatment zone the yarn will be in the proper condition to receive same. Further, in accordance with my invention, I construct a crepe thread twisting device, in which the thread is passed through a steam chamber, and connect to the thread. entrance side of the steam chamber a funnel adaptd to direct steam escaping therefrom along the course of the thread until the temperature of said steam has been reduced sufficiently low to convert it to a mist, thereby wetting the yarn, and/or until the steam has no further effect on the thread. Reference may-be had to the drawing for a device falling within the scope of this invention. a

This invention is applicable to the crepe twisting into crepe threads and yarns of yarns containing a thermoplastic derivative of cellulose. Any suitable thermoplastic derivative of cellulose may be employed, such as the organic acid esters of cellulose and cellulose ethers. Examples of the organic acid esters of cellulose are cellulose acetate, cellulose formats, cellulose propionate and cellulose butyrate, while examples of cellulose ethers are ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose and benzyl cellulose.

The yarns to be crepe twisted may be made wholly of organic derivatives of cellulose or they may contain filaments of other materials. The filaments of organic derivatives of cellulose may contain plasticizers or, more preferably, they may be coated with a coating in the nature of a lubricant that also may contain plasticizers, softening agents or swelling agents. The filaments or yarns of organic derivatives of cellulose, with or without plasticizers and lubricants, may be crepe twisted together with filaments or fibres of other materials, such as silk, cotton,

regenerated cellulose formed by either the viscose or cuprammonium process or other similar fibres.

travellers, cap spinning devices orother types of twisting mechanisms.

Whether employing the upward method of twisting or the downward method of twisting, it is preferable to pass the yarn through a steam chamber while imparting the twist to the yarn or immediately before or immediately after imparting the major part of I the twist. Therefore, the position of the steam chamber with reference to the supply package and take-up package will depend somewhat upon the type of twisting device employed.

The steam that may be employed in the steam chamber through which the yarn or thread is to pass for the purpose of setting the twist in said yarn or makingthe same pliable for the purpose of inserting the twist may be of any suitable temperature and pressure. The steam may also be wet or relatively dry steam. It is preferable, however, to employ a slightly wet steam, the temperature of which may be around 100 C.'or slightly over, applied at convenient pressures, for instance, from 0.5 to 1. or more centimeters of water. Although wet steam under pressure is preferred, relatively dry steam may be employed and either the wet or relatively dry steam may be applied at atmospheric or sub-atmospheric pressures.

When a. yarn is crepe twisted as it passes through a. steam chamber, there is usually an escape of steam at the threadentrance port of the steam chamber. The steam escapingthrough said port, if the atmosphere is substantially at steam bath, while at other times the yarn enters the steam bath containing comparatively little regained moisture. This results in a very nonuniform yarn. Further, in accordance with my invention, I protect the yarn at the entrance side of the steam bath such as to control the small jet of steam escaping' at that point and mix the same with air in such a manner that the yarn at all times receives the same amount of steam treatment. It is preferable to have this wet steam, amixture of air and steam or water vapor in atomized form, in contact with the yarn for a period substantially equal to that period which the yarn is contacted with the steam. Further, it is preferable to so arrange the device that any escaping steam from the entrance port is held in contact with the yarn or thread until said steam has been reduced in temperature to a point where it no longer has any substantial efiect on the setting properties of the yarn,

aoeavre As an aid in describing the invention, the same will be described with reference to the drawing wherein there is shown a device also forming a part of this invention. In the drawing, the frame construction, driving mechanism, guides etc. have been omitted for the purpose of simplifying the description. The device shown is a section of an upward spinning device although the invention is equally applicable to downward spinning devices. Any number of similar sections may be combined to form a bank of twisting devices mounted on one frame. The device as shown may comprise a rotating supply package support I having a pulley 2 mounted thereon for contact with the driving means. The driving means may be a belt, chain, individual electric motor or other means commonly employed in the art. The supply package 3 may be provided to supply the yarn being twisted, which supply package is adapted to be held raised and rotated by the support 8. As an aid in imparting twist to the yarn any suitable device, such as a floating ring device A, may be provided. The yarn may pass through suitable guides to direct same onto a take-up package 5. The take-up package may be supported and rotated by a roll 6 covered with a suitable friction material adapted to cause the take-up package 5 to rotate therewith.

Interposed between the supply package and the take-up package is a steam chamber 7. This steam chamber may consist of a rectangular chamber or a pipe running lengthwise of the machine. an opening through which the yarn to be treated enters the ,chamber and a. second opening in registry with the first opening through which the steam treated yarn leaves the chamber. Similar pairs of registering openings are provided for each of the supply packages mountedon the machine. Attached to the steam chamber i may The steam chamber is provided with be a nipple 8 adapted to lengthenthe period of treatment during which the yarn is exposed to the action of the steam "in the steam chamber. The nipple B may be of any suitable length, it being preferred to have the distance of travel of the yarn in the steam, from about 1 to 3 inches in length. A suitable port 9 -may be provided at the end of the nipple as an exit for the yarn.

A suitable port it may be provided for the entrance of the yarn into the steam chamber. A polished metal or porcelain guide i2 may be provided for directing the yarn into the steam chamber. Attached to the guide i2 or to the steam ,chamber 7, substanti lly concentric with the entrance port into the steam chamber, there may be a funnel or trapping member it, This funnel is adapted "to direct the steam escaping from the chamber 7 down along the yarn foraa distance sufficient to allow the steam to be cooled below an effective temperature.

The funnel B3 or trapping member may contain along its sides a, plurality of openings i i to allow for the admittance of air into the funnel for the purpose of cooling and condensing the steam. If desired, in place of the perforations it distributed throughout the body of the funnel it there may be provided one opening, preferably near the guide i2 through whichcompressed air may be forced into the funnel. Any other suitable under suitable temperature and pressure. As the yarn is carried upward by the take-up package.

- there is a constant jet of steam being emitted through the guide I2. This steam is emitted into the funnel l3 where it becomes mixed with air to form atomized water vapor or a mixture of air and steam while being forced downward to the opening of the funnel. While the steam is travelling from the guide I 2 to the opening ofthe funnel, sufficient air will be mixed with steam to' cool the same to a temperature below that having any efiect on the crepe properties of the yarn. The steam may be caused to be condensed right on or inthe yarn.

In employing downward twisting devices similar arrangements may be made. However, the funnel I3 would then be put on the upper side of the steam chamber 1 such that the yarn 'would travel through the same prior to the passage through the steam chamber and be contacted with the water vapor to raise its moisture c,on-' tent and otherwise alter its aifmity for the steam treatment.

It is understood that the foregoing detailed description and drawing are given merely by way of illustration and that many variations may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. In a method of imparting a high twist to yarns containing a thermoplastic derivative of cellulose, by twisting the yarn while steaming the same, the step of contacting yarn prior to steaming with a mixture of steam and air.

2. In a method of imparting a high twist to yarns containing an organic derivative of cellulose, bytwisting the yarn while steaming the same.

the step of contacting yarn prior to steaming with a mixture of steam and air.

3. In a method of imparting a high twist to yarns containing cellulose acetate, by twisting the yarn while steaming the same, the step of contacting yarn prior to steaming with a mixture of steam and air.

4. In a method of imparting a high twist to yarns containing an organic derivative of cellulose, by twisting the yarn while steaming the same, the step of contacting yarn prior to steaming with condensed steam in atomized form.

5. In a method of imparting a high twist to yarns containing cellulose acetate, by twisting the yarn while steaming the same, the step of contacting yarn prior to steaming with condensed steam in atomized form.

6. In a'method of imparting a high twist to yarns containing an organic derivative of cellulose, by twisting the yarn while steaming the same, the step of contacting the yarn prior to steaming with a mixture of steam and air for a period of time substantially equal to the period the yarn is steamed.

'7. In a method of imparting a high twist to yarns containing cellulose acetate, by twisting the yarn while steaming the same, the step of contacting the yarn prior to steaming with a mixture of steam and air for a period of time substantially equal tothe period the yarn is steamed.

8. In a method of imparting a high twist to yarns containing an organic derivative of cellulose, by twisting the yarn while subjecting the same to the action of dry steam, the step of contacting the yarn prior to steaming with a mixture of steam and air.

9. In a method of imparting a high twist to yarns containing cellulose acetate, by twisting the yarn while subjecting the same to the action of high steam, the step of contacting the yarn prior to steaming with a, mixture of steam and air.

10. In a method of imparting a high twist to yarn containing an organic derivative of cellulose, by twisting the yarn while subjecting the same to the action of wet steam, the step of contacting the yarn prior to steaming with a mixture of wet steam and air.

11. In a method of imparting a high twist to yarn containing cellulose acetate, by twisting the yarn while subjecting the same to the action of wet steam, the step of contacting the yarn prior to steaming with a. mixture of wet steam and air.

12. A device for imparting twist to yarns, comprising a rotatable support for a package,a takeup device, a chamber adapted to contain steam ing throughthe aperture and direct the same along the yarn approaching the aperture.

14. A device for imparting twist to yarns, comprising a rotatable support for a package, a take-up device, a chamber adapted to contain steam and having an aperture for entrance of the yarn and through which steam can escape from the chamber and, at the aperture, a flared trapping member adapted to surround steam escaping through the aperture and direct the same along the yarn approaching the aperture.

15. A device for imparting twist to yarns, comprising a rotatable support for a package, a takeup device, a chamber adapted to contain steam and. having an aperture for entrance of the yarn and through which steam can escape from the chamber, and, at the aperture, a perforated funnel adapted to surround steam escaping from the aperture and direct the same along the yarn approaching the aperture while mixing the steam with air drawn in through the perforations in said tunnel.

WILLIAM WHITEHEAD. 

